It was a disastrous opening period for the Falcons with Leicester going over
for three tries from Julian Salvi, Billy Twelvetrees and Horatio Agulla.

The second half was initially more competitive with Thomas Waldrom and Jon Golding
trading scores, before Waldrom added his second and Niall Morris went over to
seal the win, despite Mayhew's late touchdown for Newcastle.

After Saracens' surprise defeat to Worcester Warriors on Friday, it gave the
Tigers an excellent opportunity to close the gap on the second-placed side.

They got off to the perfect start when Ford kicked an early penalty before James
Fitzpatrick was sin-binned for the visitors.

Leicester capitalised when Salvi crossed the whitewash, the hosts' fly-half
converting, although Jimmy Gopperth reduced the arrears soon after with a three-pointer.

But the Falcons were powerless to withstand the Tigers' onslaught and conceded
yet again when Twelvetrees went over.

The Midlands outfit then touched down for a third time in the first half as
Agulla scampered across the try-line as the hosts led 23-3 at the interval.

Waldrom sealed the bonus-point just after half-time, but Ford missed his third
conversion in a row.

Golding replied for with a try of his own to narrow the gap for the Falcons,
but a yellow card to Taiasina Tuifua halted their recovery.

Waldrom punished their ill-discipline once again with a second score of the
afternoon before Morris completed an important victory, although Mayhew did
get a consolation try for the Falcons.